Edit: Only 2 of these were actually installed.
…these cameras contain a hardcoded list of Russian phone numbers, which can be used to open a backdoor. An SMS from one of these numbers can open shell and network access.
…the web management portal can be accessed, exposing live streams, by anyone with the camera IP.
Reports also suggest that pressure from the opposition political party in Slovakia led to the NBU investigations. The current government of the country, led by populist Robert Fico, initially denied reports that the cameras were of Russian origin and rebuffed any security concerns. Fico has what some would describe as a pro-Russia tilt, but you can read more about that elsewhere, if you are interested.
I as well wonder. I also wonder why we don’t start a rumour that that is the case.
It’s not unethical, because we should all know the US did make sure there are back doors they can spy through. It’s true, even if we don’t know how it’s true. Same with the kill switches in high value military gear they sell, like fighter jets and bombers.